[kictanet] DRAFT OF PETITION TO THE SENATE CONCERNING THE IEBC ACT, APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS

[Benson Muite]

Dear Clerk of the Senate,

Based on the template available at 
http://parliament.go.ke/sites/default/files/2020-04/Public%20Petition%20Template_1.pdf 
, a draft petition is below.  Please let me know if any additional 
information would be required to submit this petition.

Sincerely,
Benson Muite

I the undersigned, Benson Muite,

Citizen of the Republic of Kenya, and resident of Nairobi County
DRAW, the attention of the Senate to the following:

1. The representatives of the people of Kenya appointing Independent 
Electrol and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners are not selected 
to best evaluate the ability of the selected commissioners in fulfilling 
the mandate of the IEBC. This mandate consists of:
1.1 The continuous registration of voters and revision of the voter'roll;
1.2 The delimitation of constituencies and wards;
1.3 The regulation of political parties process;
1.4 The settlement of electoral disputes;
1.5 The registration of candidates for elections;
1.6 Voter education;
1.7 The facilitation of the observation, monitoring and evaluation of 
elections;
1.8 The regulation of money spent by a candidate or party in respect of 
any election;
1.9 The development of a code of conduct for candidates and parties;
1.10 The monitoring of compliance with legislation on nomination of 
candidates by parties.

2. THAT, none of these issues raised in this Petition is pending
in any court of Law, Constitutional or any other legal body.

WHEREFORE, your humble petitioner pray that the Senate

1. Consider making steps in conjunction with the National Assembly
to modify the IEBC act so that
1.1 The section on the selection panel
a) two men and two women nominated by the Parliamentary Service
Commission;
(b) one person nominated by the Law Society of Kenya; and
(c) two persons nominated by the Inter-religious Council of Kenya.
is modified to read
(a) two persons nominated by the Parliamentary Service Commission;
(b) one person nominated by the Law Society of Kenya;
(c) two persons nominated by the Inter-religious Council of Kenya;
(d) one person nominated by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya;
(e) one person nominated by the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya;
(f) one person nominated by the Teachers Service Commission; and
(g) one person nominated by the Media Council of Kenya.
1.2) This would increase the members of the selection panel by two 
people to nine, and have an associated increase in costs, but a more 
effective IEBC would also be more cost efficient.  The number of 
commissioners would also remain the same, and the selection panel 
members do not do this as a full time position.
1.3) A representative from the Institution of Engineers of Kenya can 
ensure there is sufficient technical expertise required for 
communication and electronic infrastructure
1.4) A representative fron the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya can 
ensure there is sufficient expertise in boundary delimitations
1.5) Representatives from the Teachers Service Commission and Media 
Council of Kenya can ensure there is expertise in public education and 
information dissemination.